Millions of people applying for a driving licence in the UK will now be prompted to register as blood donors, thanks to a new nationwide initiative unveiled on October 14, 2025. This collaboration between the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) and NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is designed to boost the number of blood donors—especially among the younger generation, who are urgently needed to secure the country’s future blood supply.
According to NHSBT, more than half of regular blood donors are currently over the age of 45, a statistic that has raised concerns about the sustainability of blood reserves in the years ahead. The hope is that by targeting young people at a pivotal moment—when they first apply for their driving licence—the message about blood donation will reach those with a lifetime of potential donations ahead of them.
Here’s how it works: after submitting a driving licence application, each applicant will receive an email containing a link to register as a blood donor. The email will also include a message emphasizing the life-saving impact of giving blood. Officials estimate that millions of people will see this prompt every year, providing an unprecedented opportunity to inspire a new generation of donors.
“At 17 you can both learn to drive and start giving blood, so this new partnership with the DVLA is a fantastic opportunity for the NHS to reach more younger people who have a lifetime of donating ahead of them,” said Altaf Kazi, assistant partnerships director for NHS Blood and Transplant, as quoted by The Mirror. “More than half of our regular donors are aged over 45. We need more young people to become regular donors to ensure lifesaving blood is there for patients who need it now and in the future. Giving blood is quick and easy. In just one hour you can save up to three lives. Please register and book your first appointment today.”
This initiative is not the first time the DVLA has partnered with healthcare organizations to promote life-saving causes. Since 1994, the driving licence application process has included an option to join the organ donor register—an effort that NHSBT says has been hugely successful. In fact, approximately 70% of people currently registered as organ donors did so through the DVLA prompt. Building on that legacy, the new blood donor registration push aims to replicate and expand on this success.
Tim Moss, chief executive of the DVLA, expressed pride in the agency’s role. “We’re proud to support NHS Blood and Transplant in encouraging more young people to become blood donors. With millions of driving licence applications processed each year, DVLA is in a unique position to help raise awareness and make it easier for people to take that first step,” Moss said, as reported by Nation.Cymru. “This simple addition to our digital services could help save lives. Younger donors are vital to the future of the blood supply, and we’re pleased to play a part in helping more of them get involved.”
The need for new donors is not just a matter of future planning—it’s a daily reality. Hospitals across England require around 5,000 blood donations every single day to treat patients facing traumatic injuries, complications from childbirth, blood disorders, and those undergoing cancer treatments. The demand is constant and unrelenting, and the supply must keep pace.
One of the most compelling voices in support of the new initiative is Maisie Marsh, a 17-year-old teaching assistant from Liverpool. Maisie has received more than 100 blood transfusions throughout her life due to pyruvate kinase deficiency, a rare blood disorder. She’s also looking forward to learning to drive soon—a milestone that for her, as for many young people, now comes with the added opportunity to make a difference.
“Many people my age probably haven’t thought of giving blood. Having the option to sign up when applying for a driving licence is a good way to get the message out to people who are the right age to start donating,” Maisie told Nation.Cymru. “I know first-hand the difference blood donors make. Transfusions were vital for me to grow and thrive when I was young and now they help me to stay well and lead a normal life.”
Maisie is keenly aware that blood transfusions are often associated with emergencies, but she wants people to understand the ongoing need. “People mostly associate blood transfusions with emergencies but every day there are so many people like me who need blood for ongoing conditions. My family and I are always asking people to give blood if they can. It’s so easy, and you save lives,” she said.
The new initiative targets applicants as young as 16, who can register their interest, and from age 17, they can begin donating. This approach is meant to catch potential donors at the very start of adulthood, when they are forming lifelong habits and making decisions about how they want to contribute to their communities.
Altaf Kazi emphasized the simplicity and impact of blood donation: “Giving blood is quick and easy. In just one hour you can save up to three lives.” The hope is that this message, delivered at a moment when young people are already thinking about responsibility and independence, will resonate deeply.
The program’s design is informed by the success of the organ donor prompt. Since it was introduced over three decades ago, it has normalized the idea of donation, making it a routine part of becoming a licensed driver. Now, the DVLA and NHSBT are betting that the same approach will work for blood donation, ensuring that hospitals and patients can rely on a steady stream of donors well into the future.
The broader context is clear: as the population ages and older donors retire from giving blood, the system needs to replenish itself with younger participants. Without this, there is a risk that the supply will not meet the demand—a scenario that could have dire consequences for patients in need.
For many, the message is simple but profound: giving blood saves lives, and it’s easier than ever to get started. As this new prompt rolls out to millions of driving licence applicants each year, the hope is that it will plant the seed for a lifetime of giving—and in doing so, ensure that no patient goes without the blood they need.
With the DVLA and NHS Blood and Transplant working hand-in-hand, and with the voices of young people like Maisie Marsh leading the way, the future of the UK’s blood supply looks a little brighter—and a lot more hopeful.
